Building a Culture of Generosity

Is your Stewardship Committee looking for new ideas? 

If so, our synod is partnering with ELCA Churchwide to bring you Building a Culture of Generosity (BCG) from GSB Fundraising. This program seeks to help congregations grow revenue by 5-10% and also teaches biblical stewardship principles, helps members discover generosity, and begins to build the foundation for a generous culture. This program is provided in a combination of a document library, video library, and live Zoom sessions. 

Here is what one recent BCG participant shared:

"We are pleased to say we received 39 new and increased pledges, out of 75 giving units

for a total increase of $14,535. I have a new way of looking at our congregation and how generous we are, thanks to your program. It’s more enjoyable to speak with positive affirmations rather than with (our church is dying) wails. You laid out this wonderful plan and had regular zoom meetings to learn more and hear from everyone. Your book, meetings, and documents helped me understand all the moving parts in implementing The Culture of Generosity message."

When and Where:

The first session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 24, 11am. All sessions will be at this time, with the next 5 sessions scheduled for: Feb 7, Feb 21, March 7, March 21, and April 17.

Ready to register for the series?

Register here: https://gsbfundraising.com/bcg-registration-elca-partnership/

GSB Fundraising Contact for this Winter/Spring 2023 Cohort is Paul Walters, walters@gsbfr.com

Questions? Please reach out to Deacon Dianne Johnson!

ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions

Every Wednesday at 11am (Pacific)

All lay leaders and rostered ministers are invited to join this weekly opportunity to hear from various leaders across the Church - and share in small group conversation - on the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.

Learn more about this week's topic and get the registration link here:  https://www.elcacoaching.org/

Interrogating Privilege

A LiVE Project Course

Class meets Wednesdays Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8

then Thursdays during Lent: Feb. 23, Mar. 2, 9, 16

6:30pm - 8pm on Zoom

Presenters:

Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin & Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace

This 8-week course is designed specifically for lay leaders to open up transparent, and honest conversations around the ways privilege shapes and impacts our lives and communities of faith. If you’ve read anti-racist books, and are looking for the next, best steps as an individual, family or congregation, this course offers additional ways to move forward. Participants will also have an option to explore their own bias through the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

Read about our presenters and get registered HERE!

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We give thanks for our partner collaboration with Trinity Education Foundation who, through a generous grant, is helping us to reach and make accessible these learning opportunities to more and more communities of faith. This gift helps us to further expand on the great offerings that we can make available.

National Fund for Sacred Places

Join us on February 1st for an introductory session!

Join us for an introductory webinar on Wednesday, February 1, at 9am to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place may qualify.

Register for the online session here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fUORhQEaQGuslHTP99nO7Q

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects. To learn more, please visit us at fundforsacredplaces.org.

Talks at the Desk Trailer

Season 2 in February

African Descent Ministries of the ELCA celebrates Black History Month with “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series that will explore diverse expressions of the church. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 5:30 pm.

Watch live on Facebook, stream on YouTube or download at https://ELCA.org/ADM

For more information: https://ELCA.org/TalksAtTheDesk

Online Trainings from ReconcilingWorks!

Find these two online trainings and more here:

https://www.reconcilingworks.org/trainings/

The Let’s Talk About SOGIE training and “Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression” are complementary resources, to be used side by side in your learning of language, and ways to extend hospitality to our LGBTQIA+ siblings. The training is great for those who are hoping to support their faith community in ongoing education, or for individuals who have an open heart and mind on learning more about God’s diversity of creation. The training is 1.5 hours long and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $35 per person.

2023 Trainings: February 2 / March 2 / May 4 / June 1

Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) training helps you design and implement a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and incorporate a commitment to the work of racial equity. Building an Inclusive Church equips you with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout your faith community rather than sparking debate and division. The training is 4.5 hours long, and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $75 per person.

2023 Trainings: February 4 / March 4 / May 6 / June 3

Morning Art Retreat - Calligraphy

Saturday, February 4, 9am-1pm

At Emmaus Table at 7400 Woodlawn

Take a morning retreat, learning some basics of calligraphy in the welcoming community space at 7400 Woodlawn.

Laura Sasaki Norton is a skillful calligrapher and teacher, offering an inviting, supportive spirit of exploration in trying something new! The registration fee is $40 - 70, which includes materials and teaching fee. 

To register online, click here and find Calligraphy Class in the drop down menu. If you have questions, contact Harriet Platts at info@7400Woodlawn.org.

Lutherwood Annual Meeting

Saturday, February 4, 10am

at the Lutherwood Chapel

Please check with the camp office to see if your congregation is a contributing member and come and vote. Each member congregation can send 1 clergy member and 2 lay members.

office@camplutherwood.org (360) 734-7652.

Interfaith Advocacy Day

In Olympia, Thursday, February 9, 9am-3pm.

Registration is now open - please register HERE by January 29 to attend IN PERSON. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, there is no cost to attend this year. We will be gathering in person at The United Churches of Olympia in the morning and meeting with legislators in the afternoon. We are unsure at this point which portions of the day we will be able to offer for online participation; we will provide updates about that and registration for any online activities as more is known. Please join us to raise voices of faith and conscience in our State Capitol!

LiVE Project Winter Retreat

The Spirituality of Disruption

Saturday, February 11. 9am-3pm

at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Bellevue

Collectively disruptions shape the human experience. Most recently we have experienced a global disruption through the Covid pandemic. As people of faith, we are also experiencing a disruption as the people of God within our local churches. Amid these various disruptions, and in light of the journey of Lent before us, how we can think of and practice our way faithfully through disruption as led by the Holy Spirit among us?

This winter retreat invites us into how we think about and engage in the discernment of the spirits, Creator and created, and how God calls us to faithful and focused witness as God's people. Through reflection and practical exercises, we will consider discernment processes that honor disruption as a movement of the Spirit, and our responsibility and call within it all.

Learn how to participate HERE.

PLTS - Mohrenwieser Lecture

"CRISPR Revolution in Science, Religion, and Ethics"

Wednesday, February 15 at 9am

(online & in person at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary)

In this lecture, Arvin Gouw PhD will present an overview of the CRISPR revolution and the various uses of CRISPR, a powerful gene editing tool. The questions and issues raised by the scientific, ethical, and religious communities amidst this CRISPR revolution are more important than the answers provided. The topics introduced here revolve around the medical uses of CRISPR, but CRISPR can be used to edit the genome of any living organism. The three domains discussed in this lecture (science, religion, and ethics) will need to engage this novel technology. Dr. Ted Peters, Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, will offer a response. 

Learn more about this event, the presenters and how to register here: and Dr. Gouw here: https://www.plts.edu/events/5657/

Trauma & Its Healing

Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association

Non-members and non-nurses are welcome to attend!

February 21, 4-6 pm on ZOOM

Trauma is characterized in three ways: acute, chronic, and complex. This presentation will offer information as to the types of trauma; how they present/how they can be recognized; what damage they can do to those experiencing them; strategies for beginning the healing process; and vicarious trauma (the trauma suffered by those witnessing trauma suffered by others, including caregivers).

Registration fee: $20 for LFCNA members/ $30 for non-members

To register, please go to: https://elpna.org/event-5115478

Suicide Alertness Training

Satruday, February 25, 9am-1pm

at Freeborn Lutheran Church

2416 300th St. NW, Stanwood

LivingWorks safeTALK is a four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. You’ll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support.

Who should attend safeTALK? safeTALK is for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide: teachers, front line workers, clergy, volunteers, coaches, parents, youth (15 and older), teachers, law enforcement, social workers, anyone who wants to help prevent suicide.

FACILITATORS: John and Shirley Swanson Certified LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST trainers.

Note: Class size limited to 40. Cost of training materials has been donated.

To pre-register email ASIST.Lifeguard@yahoo.com, or text 360-271-9896